Bill-collecting book or file.



m. 7|5,i62. Patented Dec. 2, I902.

a. .1. SCHWARTZ.

BILL GDLLEGTING BOOK 0B FILE.

(Application filed May 15, 1902.)

WITNESSES INVENTOI? d aewyejlji'nurifi I By M 4 12,

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AT NT FFICE.

GEORGE J. SGHVVARTZ, OF NATCHEZ, MISSISSIPPI.

BI LLECOL LECTING BOOK OR FILE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 715,162, dated December 2, 1902.

Application filed May 15, 1902.

To LtZZ whom it may concern/.-

Beit known that I, GEORGE J. SCHWARTZ, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Natchez, in the county'of Adams and State of Mississippi, have invented new and useful Improvements in 'Bill- Collecting Books or Files, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in files for use by bill-collectors and others and also for use as a deskiile.

The object that I have in view is the provision of a simple and inexpensive contrivance adapted to foldso compactly that it may easily be carried in the pocket, said device having a plurality of pockets adapted to allow the bills or other memoranda to be arranged alphabetically in order that reference may be quickly made thereto at any time.

WVith these ends in view the invention consists of a file embodying certain novel features of construction, which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a perspective view of a bill-collecting file embodying my invention and showing the same in a partially-open condition. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken through a part of the file; and Fig. 3 is a vertical detail sectional view through the upper part of one of the members of the file, the long lower part of the file member being broken away.

In carrying my invention into practice I employ covers 5 6 at the front and back of the file for the purpose of inclosing the intermediate foldable members 7 thereof. Any desired number of these intermediate foldable members may be employed; but I have found it desirable to use not less than ten intermediate members, which with the covers 5 6 are sufficient to provide the proper number of pockets for asserting bills or' other memoranda alphabetically. The intermediate members 7 each consist of a comparatively stiif body portion 8, which is formed by a layer of cardboard or other suitable material having the desired strength or stifiness combined with lightness and a certain degree Serial No- 107,385. (No model.)

of pliability,t-his body portion 8 being slightly smaller than the covers 5 6. I also prefer to provide one of the members 8 on the inner face of each cover 5 or 6, as shown by Figs. 1 and 2; but it is evident that this specific arrangement of the members and the number of members which may be employed can be varied within wide limits by the skill of the constructor and according to the use to which it is desired to put the improved file.

One of the important features of my invention consists of a pliable connection which serves the twofold purpose of uniting the series of members and the covers foldably together and at the same time provides pockets on the faces of the several members and-the inner sides of the covers. This pliable connection is formed by a layer of fabric or other equivalent material 9, which has one edge portion thereof folded over upon the body or backing S of the members, asindicated atlO, while the other edge portion ll of the fabric sheet is folded in the opposite direction upon the members 8, so as to produce a series of pockets 12.

In the manufacture of the improved'billfile I take a piece of fabric or other material and lay or spread the same in a flat condition upon a table or other surface. The series of backings 8, forming parts of the foldable members, are laid upon this sheet of fabric or other material in the proper order of arrangement, and each backing 8 is united throughout one face thereof to the pliable sheetas, for example, by gluing, cementing, or otherwise fastening the members and the sheet together. The portion 10 of the pliable sheet is folded over the other faces of the members 8, and this folded portion 10 is cemented or otherwise united throughout its overlapping portion to said members, as indicated more clearly by Fig. 3. The other overlapping or folded portion 11 of the fabric sheet is not cemented or united to the members or backingsS, but said overlapping portion 11 is attached to the pliable sheet 9 by rows of stitches 13 in the intervals between the adjacent-edge portions of the members or back ings 8, as shown more clearly by Fig. 2. The overlapping portion 11 of the fabric sheet is thus left free or unconfined with relation to the members 8, so as to form the pockets 12.

The free or unattached portions 11, forming the pockets, are much larger than the lapping portions 10, which are cemented to the active faces of the members 8, at the upper parts thereof, and thus the pockets of the improved file are made sufficiently large to receive the bills, receipts, or other articles which it is desired to store away for safe-keeping.

It will be understood that the sheet of fabric or other pliable material has its end portions united to the covers 5 6, along with suitable backing-sheets 8, in order to connect this fabric sheet and the intermediate members or leaves 8 to the covers and to each other. The foldable leaves are provided on their opposing faces with the pockets 12, While the back faces of the members or leaves are merely covered by the pliable sheet 9. These pockets may be lettered alphabetically, as shown by Fig. 1, or numbered consecutively, or designated in any other convenient way, thus promoting the convenience of the user in filing away bills, receipts, &c.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, it will be seen that I have provided an improved file in which members are formed by comparatively stiff sheets and by a layer of fabric which serves to foldably connect the members and the covers, and also to produce pockets on the opposing faces of said foldable members, thus simplifying the construction and producing a device which not only has the necessary strength, but which is capable of folding together in an exceedingly compact relation and can be manufactured at a very low cost. The improved file folds so compactly that it can be easily carried in the pocket, and the file can be opened at Will to any desired number or letter, thus enabling the user to obtain ready access to any particular bill, receipt, or the like.

It will be observed that the pockets 12 open near the upper ends of the members 8, and the bills contained in the pockets can easily be Withdrawn through said open ends of said pockets in order to inspect them or to write suitable memoranda thereon, the backing or member 8 forming a good surface when it is desired to write on the bills.

It is evident that at the back of the file any suitable tablet or loose leaves may be employed to receive memoranda, and the improved file may also be equipped with a means for fastening it in a closed condition-as, for example, a suitable band may be employed to fit around the covers.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- An improved file of the class described,comprising suitable covers, a series of comparatively stiff backing leaves or members, and a pliable connection uniting the covers and the backing leaves or members foldably together, said pliable connection consisting of a suitable sheet, cemented or otherwise united to corresponding faces of the backing leaves or members and having one edge portion thereof folded over and united to a part of the active faces of the backing leaves or members, said pliable sheet having its remaining edge portion folded over and unattached to the frontopposing faces of-the backing-leaves, and said loose portions of the pliable'sheet being united to the back portion thereof in the intervals between the backing leaves or members by lines of stitching, said unattached portion of the backing-sheet forming pockets on the active faces of the members or leaves, said pockets being open near the upper portion of the backing-leaves.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE J. SCHWARTZ.

\Vitnesses:

J. J. LAMBERT, H. R. WESTON. 

